​People tell me often that they find it amazing that I make so little landfill on a day-to-day basis.But what gets people the most gob smacked is the amount-or lack of-that I make while traveling.How is it possible to be green while traveling, when everything is different, your'e in a different environment you don;t know where the bulk foods are, your eating in restaurants .

Well, it is possible...though it takes a little planning:

1. Have the right tools

Being on vacation isn't the time to abandon your reusable cups, straws, forks, containers. If anything, travel is when you MOST need these thin. I never leave home without my Stojo collapsible coffee cup, my silicone collapsible water bottle, my silicone collapsible take-out containersMy spork is in my purse along with my metal straw. I carry several bandannas- some to wear, some to mark luggage, and one to use as a napkin

2. Plan ahead

In the old days, pre-smart phone and internet, you had to rely on the mercy of the luck, or use big, bulky travel guidebooks Now there an app for everything... and a little pre-trip homework to find out where the natural food stores are, or where the vegan restaurants are go a long way.

3. Air BnB vs Hotels

Hotels certainly have their place, and I so stay in them, especially if and when landing n a new country where I have never been and am jet-lagged as hell. That's when I want the help at the front desk, and not to have to think about where what is.

Buy beyond that, I am a total AirBnB fan and look for rentals that have at least a hot plate and or microwave. This way I can "shop like the locals", cook at "home". Many places I stay also have recycling- it is certainly easier to control your trash when you have municipal help.

4. Research the local Recycling Rules Before You Go

Before going to France and the Netherlands 2017 and to Australia this year, I looked up what could be recycled where. I ask the locals for suggestions. Even in Amsterdam, where we were staying in a hotel that had no on-site recycling, there were recycling bins across the street. I took our stuff there.

5. Be a Scout, Pack it out.

The most important thing is to be willing to practice what experienced river rafters on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon have had to so for years: pack it out.

I carry a plastic bag in my purse and a larger one on my suitcase and anything that I cannot recycle locally but that I know I can recycle in Seattle (or perhaps the next town down the road, such as was the case in France between my hotel and my friend Odile's house where they not only recycle, but compost)

6. Remember to ask for NO STRAW, NO STRAW and NO STRAW AGAIN!

7. Sit in! Sip a while!

Take the extra ten minutes to drink your coffee in a "here" cup. This is easier in Europe as it has less of a take-out culture in the USA, but even there (and here in Australia) the "to-go" cups are becoming ubiquitous,

I know these are controversial, how much does paying a little money for a company that claims that it will plant trees, etc, really help? Where does the money go? And how is it really helping when we really shouldn't fly at all, due to the carbon intensity of jet-travel?

I know it isn't perfect, but I believe every bit helps. At minimum, it is letting airlines (you can often by carbon offsets via the airline when you purchase your ticket) and/or third party carbon offset programs know that you are aware that flying is environmental damage and thus create demand for a solution. I buy an offset thorough the airline, and through Terra Pass in order to create this "demand".

9. BE MINDFUL OF YOUR FLYING

I am not going to say "never fly".

While flying is a privilege for many, not flying (due to time constraints of daily life) is also a privilege.In a huge country like the USA, that lacks comprehensive high-speed train travel, very few people have the time of time to drive from Seattle to Boston, etc. But you *might* have the time to be able to drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and eschew the flight. Or New York to D.C.

Instead, be mindful of how much you fly and get creative in planning. Make a "carbon budget". Set an amount of air miles you're "allowed" annually and try and work around that. That is what I try to do. In planning for the Australia trip, I have sacrificed other plane trips for this year and next year.

If you fly for work, ask about video conferencing. Push the money-saving aspects of video conferencing over flight. You might get some positive response.​___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________​In conclusion, the above "to do"s are all far from perfect. I know that. But they are better than nothing.Keep trying to do you best, folks! I know I am trying to do mine!

Since 2008, each year I compute my overall carbon output to the best of my ability. It is not an exact science (especially since I am not a scientist! :-)

What I DO count: planes, trains, automobiles and natural gas home heating.

What I do NOT count: electricity, as not only is Seattle City Light, powered by 93% renewable wind ,bio-as and hydro-power, but I also have ownership in the Seattle Community Solar program, which kicks back a certain percentage of power-and money-every year. I also had, until July 20018, a solar/electric hot water system on my actual house that, unfortunately, was damaged beyond repair during some roofing work in summer of 2018. I now have a hybrid electric-heat pump hot water system, in preparation for getting solar panels on my roof next year,

I also do NOT count my food choices (though I should) as I have not figured out a way to accurately calculate my food footprint. So far, all the food footprint calculators either over-estimate or under-estimate my meat consumption. I realize I should quit meat, and though I have cut way down, I haven't kicked the habit.

Lastly, I do NOT count the embedded carbon of anything- I have no idea how to even begin that one,

If I has made made no plane trips in 2018, my carbon output would have been 889 lbs. Wow.(Until you factor in meat, clothes, water, etc,)

So- while in comparison to 2010 and 2014, 2018 for me sucks as far as output goes, I still made less over all carbon due to less plane travel (no international flights), though more gas rental car travel negated some of that.

HOW DEB DOES THE MATH:

Air Travel:(I forget where I got this formula I will update post when I find it again)Short haul <727.45 miles 0.64 lbs/mile Med haul <2575 miles 0.44 lbs/mile Long haul >2575 miles 0.39lbs/mile

When I first started Deb Goes Green in 2008, there were NO cities in the USA with single-use plastic bans.

Now, according to the list I pulled from FORBES on-line magainze, here are at least , with Albuqueque, NW just signing the ban into law yesterday, Sat April 22. (This I can verify as I am in Alburqeureqe right no, visiting family)

While there are always issues and problems when huge changes like this happen (ie some Walmarts starting to give out thicker-use plastic bags, claiming they are "reusable", I still feel that the growing list is a step i nteh right direction.

​

...A Very Belated Happy new year!

I started this post the first week of January, 2019, then got distracted.We creatives can be like that:-) Anyway, thinking back to January...

...when most people are writing resolutions about how they can do better in the future, I am taking the time to review what went well and right in the environmental conservation/zero waste world during 2018.

Despite the 24/7 negative news cycle, especially about the environment, there were lots of goals accomplished signal that some things are going very well.

As you can see from my "2018" top nine photos from my Instagram feed, the theme in my life is plastic, or rather freeing myself from in. And it seeks very much that the world is slowing starting to wake up about the dangers of plastic pollution. And there were many positive changes to reduce the use of single-use plastics in 2018.